Zenith

ICT4D Week 2018

Monday, November 07, 2016

Intel, Girl Rising Nigeria partner on International Day of the Girl Child

Intel Corporation and Girl Rising Nigeria recently partnered on
the International Day of the Girl Child, reports ITRealms.

The event which held at the Film House Cinema, Ado Bayero Mall
in Kano, has the theme as “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: What Counts for
Girls”.

ITRealms also gathered that the ceremony was organized in the
framework of encouraging girls to see education as a “Must Have” with a
goal to highlight the role of technology and the Internet as essential tools
needed for leveraging all aspects of human endeavor in the current competitive
dispensation.

In addition, ITRealms reports that the occasion brought together
over 500 girls from schools across Kano, government officials, NGOs and
partners working for the protection of child rights.

Convener of the event who doubles as the Country Manager of Girl
Rising Nigeria, Maryam Tafida Bello, described the event as an avenue for girls
in Kano and beyond to realize that they can achieve their dreams.

Stressing that people should bring meaningful change to Kano and
the world by empowering girls through education.

“There are over 5 million girls out of school in Nigeria and
most of these girls are in the northern part of the country. We cannot sit back
and watch, we must do something. We must take the baton to lead the fight in
ensuring that all girls, all children are educated. That is why we are here
today”, Maryam said.

Speaking at the event, Corporate Affairs Manager, Intel
Corporation, Babatunde Akinola mentioned how Intel is making efforts in several
ways to encourage women and young girls to be technologically motivated,
especially through the Company’s ‘She Will Connect’ initiative.

“Women do 60 per cent of world’s work, produce 50 per cent of
food, and yet earn 10 per cent of income and own only 1 per cent asset”. Intel
will continue to work with NGOs and other well-meaning organizations under the
She Will Connect umbrella to enable, empower and connect girls and women to
opportunities and consequently put an end to such gender gap” he said.

On the partnership, Akinola reiterated Intel’s commitment to the
development of the girl child.

He stressed that the company elected to partner with Girl Rising
to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child to further demonstrate
Intel’s commitment to helping the girl child realize her potentials and improve
their opportunities for employment and income generation while embracing
technology and the Internet.

ITRealms further gathered that to drive home the message with
storytelling, over 500 girls and young women including, government
functionaries, NGO partners watched the Girl Rising video series ‘Da Bazar Mu’
which literally means ‘Dancing to Women’s Tune”.

The key message of the video series was centered on encouraging
and motivating the girl child to see education as a necessary step towards the
accomplishment of their dreams.

Representatives of the girls including two beneficiaries of
Intel She will Connect initiative gave presentations to affirm their commitment
to acquiring education and relevant technology skills that would ensure they
achieve their dreams.

The International Day of the Girl Child Event echoes the need
for more opportunities for girls, and increases awareness on the inequalities
faced by girls worldwide.